Chapter 23
MIA
Truth or dare? I love a dare as much as the next girl, and this game is our whole-ass jam, but I’m not sure it’s wise right now.
Even in my buzzed state, I detected the Richter scale tremors coming off Swayze while he watched me with Mario.
I thought for sure he’d recognize the family resemblance. We’ve always been told we’d pass for brother and sister because Mario looks a lot like Nick, and failing that, you’d think my idiot brother might’ve clued him in, but apparently not.
He was jealous.
I shouldn’t like that, but I kinda do.
Is he just playing the part of how he thinks a boyfriend should act?
I mean, he might be.
My heart sinks at the thought, but we’re not about to examine that. I shouldn’t want him to be jealous because this isn’t real.
We aren’t catching feelings.
But I’ve never had a partner care enough about me to act that way.
To want me and me alone.
The toad certainly didn’t. He only felt threatened because he was worried a decent guy would show me just how toxic his fuckery was.
The way Swayze just pulled me in front of him, wrapping himself around me like a cling-on was everything. My Wolff essentially peed all over me, declaring to everyone here that I’m his and I’m not mad at it.
I liked it, even.
And pee play isn’t even one of my kinks.
If it is all for show, maybe I can try to forget. Pretend I really am his. Just for tonight. Maybe even just for this trip—until we get home and I have to let him go.
Would that be so bad?
Excitement bubbles low in my stomach, the idea taking root, and my brain whirls. It might be the wine talking, or maybe the sun, but fuck it. For once in my life, I’m going to let myself have this.
It’ll be fine. We’re supposed to be a couple, anyway.
It’s not fake to anyone else, so why not have a little fun while we’re here?
I could let go and just live. Stop reminding myself every few seconds that this is all total bullshit.
Vacation romances are a thing, right? They don’t all end in wedding rings.
When we get back home, we’ll be with our friends. He’ll be back at work. Real life will resume… well, after I put that stupid bitch in her place at his fundraiser thing, so I’ll have one last ride I guess—no pun intended.
I’m sure it won’t take long for the badge bunnies to start sniffing around him again.
Everything will go back to normal. Maybe even a new normal, where we’ll argue less because we’ve worked off any residual tension on this trip. Then we’ll forget all about it, like a dream that slowly fades when you wake up, until it disappears entirely.
I’m ready to live the dream.
Leaning my head back onto his chest, I look up at this man, my friend, my one wild night Ghostface stranger, and let go, trusting he’ll keep me safe.
I tug his head down to mine, losing myself to his drugging kiss.
The rumble that escapes his chest hits me straight down there, kickstarting a whole other pulse.
Oh god.
Trust is one thing, but staying sober enough to not ride his dick like a pony?
That’s the whole ass problem.
Because while I’m playing this arguably dangerous game, blurring these lines—that’s one rule it’s probably smart not to break. Not if I want to keep my poor little shattered heart still beating.
Right?
Pulling away, giving myself a second to breathe, I tug Swayze over to the loungers and push him into one, curling myself onto his lap like the horny hellcat I am. His arm automatically curls around my waist, his thumb stroking little circles just below my ribs while he jokes with my brother.
The rest of the group gathers around too, but I swear I have the worst luck because the toad and my ex-cousin—because fuck her, she doesn’t get that title anymore—end up sitting directly opposite us, ruining my view of the sea.
Ughhhh.
Why are they even still here? No one wants them to be. I wish they’d just stayed home with the kid instead of dumping him on her parents.
How did they even find their way here with both their noses stuck so high in the air? No way they can see in front of them. None.
What’s even the point when they barely speak to anyone.
Although, it’s not like I want him coming anywhere near me, let alone speaking to me after his attack the other night.
Unfortunately, I think I just cursed myself because Pete catches my eye for a second and a slimy smile spreads slowly over his face.
I fire back the biggest death glare before turning back to face Swayze.
He leans his head back against the lounger, tilting it to lock eyes with me.
God, I love his eyes. They look so clear, but so haunting. They’re as unusual in coloring as mine. Makes me wonder what color our kids would end up with?
Woooooah.
Slow your roll, Mia. What’s next, a puppy called Fisticuffs? How much fucking alcohol have you actually had?
I know you agreed to forget reality, but kids are next level.
Pulling the beer bottle from Swayze’s hand, I take a long drag, swallowing it down before taking another.
Swayze chuckles, stroking a warm hand up my thigh. “You gonna leave me some of that, Angel?”
I tilt the bottle to my mouth, letting it pool there, then lean in. He opens immediately and I kiss him, trickling the beer between us as our tongues tangle together.
This might be the hottest, dirtiest kiss I’ve ever shared. Swayze rises to the occasion—pun absolutely intended, given the poke I’m detecting—every time. His hand slides higher on my thigh, gripping me tight.
I’ll be wearing his marks tomorrow for sure.
“Woooooah now. Can you two go and get a room to fuck already? I can’t watch your foreplay anymore. It’s like stumbling onto an OnlyFans with people you know, and that is not my kink, sis.”
Goddammit, Nick. You’re lucky I love your stupid ass.
Spinning on Swayze’s lap to face the group again, I try to ignore the huge boner attempting to break through his shorts, only rubbing myself on it once—okay, maybe twice—but I definitely stop when Swayze hisses behind me.
“Ok, ok. I’m sorry. Pass us a couple more beers and let’s play, Nicky. We’re ready.” I laugh, making grabby hands at my twin.
Well, one of us is more than ready to play. Just not the game Nick has in mind…
Once we’re all settled with fresh beers, Nick forces me to move—reluctantly, I might add—off Swayze’s lap and onto the lounger next to his, and grabs an empty beer bottle to kick off the game.
It starts off super chill, but with Mario handing out beers like he’s at a frat party we all get a little more buzzed—okay, let’s be real we left that three beers ago and took a hard right into dumb decision-making territory.
The bottle spins, finally landing on me. “Truth.”
Layla shouts, “Have you ever faked an orgasm, and with who?”
Ha. Surely she knows what she’s just done. I’m totally about to call out her brother for being a lousy fuck.
Oh well, I stopped giving a shit a while ago and hit the level of unhinged I require to let my freak flag fly.
“Yup, I’ve faked so many I should’ve seen a paycheck. And nope. I see those heads turning toward my Wolff, but I can assure you it wasn’t with him. He can make me come with a freakin’ look if he tries hard enough.” I nod toward the toad. “It was with that guy.”
Pete glares at me, crushing the beer can in his hand while the group erupts around us. Mario slaps his thigh, wiping tears from his eyes, and Swayze grabs my chin and tugs me in for a kiss. Just as he slips in a little tongue, Nick shouts, interrupting us again.
“No, no, Mia. It’s your turn to spin the bottle.”
Ugh, god. Who made him the fun police tonight?
As a nearlywed, surely he should be all over his woman too. I hope it lands on one of them next and I’ll sort that out.
The bottle, would you believe, lands on the toad. Because of course it does.
It’s either unlucky or payback.
Okay Mia, you’re not letting him win again.
He glares at me, “Truth.”
The man wouldn’t know the truth if it kicked him in the balls.
“How many women have you cheated on her with?”
Silence falls over the group, all eyes trained on him. Putting him on blast guarantees I’ve earned his wrath, but you know what? Let him try.
His face goes through every shade of red before closing on purple.
“We’re not playing this game, it’s for children. Come on.” He grabs my cousin’s hand who looks crestfallen. I almost feel sorry for her—almost—until I remember how easy it was for her to sneak around behind my back, fucking my boyfriend until he knocked her up.
Sucks to look in the mirror, right?
He yanks her up off the lounger, forcing her to scramble as he storms off down the beach, dragging her behind him.
“Once a cheater, always a cheater,” I shout after them, chuckling.
Turning to face the others, I meet his sister’s gaze, who thankfully doesn’t look all that bothered. “Sorry, Layla.”
Laughing, she waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, I know he’s an ass. He’s only here because parents.”
Thought so. They never did have a close relationship.
“So now I’ve taken out the trash, do I spin again?”
The group goes wild, hooting and clapping around me. I catch Swayze’s eye and he crooks his finger at me—yeeeeep, like that Dirty Dancing moment, because he just can’t help channeling his namesake—so I lean in, accepting the soft kiss he plants on my lips.
“That’s my girl,” he murmurs against them, sending alllll sorts of warm, gushy fuzzies through me.
“Spin again, Mia!” Mario shouts.
“Nah, you do it, Maz.”
He leans forward, spinning the bottle with a determined grunt. When it finally stops, the spout lands directly on Swayze.
“Truth or dare, Wolff?”
His eyes meet mine for a split second before turning to Mario. “Dare.”
Ohhhh, he’s brave.
“Dare you to whisper a dirty secret about Mia into Nick’s ear loud enough for the rest of us to hear.”
“Oh, come on bro. Why the fuck are you dragging me into this? I’m the groom, you’re supposed to be nice to me.”
Mario shrugs, laughing. “Rules are rules, koumbare.”
“You’re sick Maz. Just you wait,” Nick growls out, flinging an empty beer bottle at our cousin.